Isaiah 5:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich.

NIV: Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture; lambs will feed among the ruins of the rich.

NASB: Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, And strangers will eat in the ruins of the wealthy.

CSB: Lambs will graze as if in their own pastures, and resident aliens will eat among the ruins of the rich.

NLT: In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.

KJV: Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

NKJV: Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, And in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat.

The people of Jerusalem and Judah have been living only for themselves and ignoring the deeds the Lord (Isaiah 5:12). They have become so wrapped up in themselves that they have stopped being impressed with God. Isaiah's prophecy warns that this season will not last. The Lord will bring judgment. Those not swallowed up by death (Isaiah 5:14) will be carried off into exile (Isaiah 5:13).

Now Isaiah describes the scene after the invasions are over. The beautiful houses and the feasting halls have been reduced to ruins. Lambs quietly graze in these formerly busy spots, as if in a pasture. Those who have escaped the exile will hunt and eat around the ashes of the former homes of the rich. The frenzied, ungodly pace will be brought to a halt, made silent, and replaced with quiet.

Isaiah 5:8–30 contains Isaiah's dire predictions about the upcoming judgment of Israel. The first "woes" are to the greedy and the pleasure-seeking drinkers. They will go into exile and to the grave for refusing to acknowledge God. The Lord then will be exalted for restoring justice and righteousness. The next woes are to those who embrace sin and mock the coming judgment. These are also those people who have mixed evil and good and believe they know better than God. The final listed woes are those who make it a point of pride how much alcohol they can drink, as well as how they can work the system with bribes. The Lord will summon the armies of the nations to bring judgment on His people.

Isaiah 5 begins with a parable about a farmer who builds a vineyard that produces sour grapes. The owner says he will lay waste to the vineyard. Isaiah reveals the owner to be the Lord and the vineyard to be Israel. Israel's bad fruit includes the greed of the wealthy and the hedonism of the people. They will go hungry and thirsty, into exile, and the grave. The Lord will be exalted for His righteousness. Isaiah pronounces woe on the sinners, the mockers, and the unjust rulers. The Lord will summon the nations to judge His people.

Early chapters (Isaiah 1—4) established a prophetic message given to the people of Israel. Isaiah 5 begins a new section with a parable about a vineyard that produces wild grapes despite all the work the owner has done. The vineyard is Israel, and the owner is the Lord. He will lay waste to the vineyard for the greed and drunkenness of the people. They will go into exile and the grave. The Lord will be exalted, but woe to those who embrace sin, and mock God's judgment. As well as those who take bribes against the poor. He has summoned the nations. Judgment is coming. The next chapter includes one of the Bible's most famous visions (Isaiah 6).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/5/2024 2:00:03 AM